State grant may help Boyne improve water system, renovations at former Water Works buidling

January 27, 2010|By Steve Zucker News-Review Staff Writer

BOYNE CITY — City leaders are hoping that a state grant might bring both some needed improvements to the city’s water system and help save part of the system’s history.

At Tuesday’s Boyne City City Commission meeting, city manager Michael Cain asked the commission for direction on which from a long list of possible projects the city should submit to the state for consideration for a newly available Infrastructure Enhancement Grant.

From a list of 12 possible projects city staff created, Cain said two rose to the top of the list as most feasible: water system improvements and infrastructure that is already planned to be replaced in the upcoming Division Street reconstruction project.

Cain said in preliminary discussions, state officials said both projects would likely receive favorable consideration.

He went on to explain that over the past several years the city has set aside a total of about $400,000 to cover the infrastructure costs associated with the Division Street project and that if the city were to successfully pursue that option, some of the money set aside for that project could be used elsewhere.

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The proposed water system project option would include the addition of a new well on the North Boyne property, renovating the former Water Works building on Division Street (known to many as the 1910 building) so it could house a new booster pump and some control equipment.

Rough initial estimates for the water system project are about $600,000.

If the grant is approved, the city would pay about half of that cost.

Cain told the commission that his reading of conversations with state officials is that the water system project might have a slightly higher chance of approval because it benefits the entire community.

Cain noted that one of the city’s existing wells has been taken off-line for use only in a backup capacity because, although the water from it tests OK, it has a foul smell and taste.

After discussing the merits of both grant proposals, the commission voted unanimously to pursue the water system project mainly citing its benefit to the community, chances of winning approval and the fact that money had already been set aside for the Division Street project.

Since August of 2008, a group of Boyne City residents has been working to find a way to save the crumbling former water works building, which hasn’t been used by the water system since the mid-1980s.

Cain said the grant application was due in a couple weeks and the city should have an answer in time to do the work some time this year.

In other business related to the former water works building, the city accepted an offer from engineering firm C2AE and Floyd and Todd Wright Builders to work together to come up with specific cost estimates for the possible work at the 1910 building at no cost to the city.